Helmet with faceguard system

ABSTRACT

A helmet comprising a shell, a wire guard, at least one spacer, and at least one fastener. The shell has at least one attachment portion which includes an outer surface. The wire guard has at least one attachment portion corresponding to the at least one attachment portion of the shell. The attachment portion of the wire guard includes an inner surface. Each spacer has an outer surface corresponding to the inner surface of a the attachment portion of the wire guard. Each spacer also has an inner surface corresponding to the outer surface of the attachment portion of the shell. The at least one fastener engages each spacer with the corresponding attachment portions of the shell and wire guard.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a helmet with a faceguard foruse in diamond sports such as baseball and softball or the like. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a system utilizing aspacer to allow a uniformly sized wire faceguard to fit different helmetsizes.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Most batting helmets include or can be used with a faceguard. Afaceguard may take the form of a wire guard, and will be referred tohereinafter as a “wire guard” for ease of reference, although it shouldbe noted that other types of faceguards are also included. However,different helmet sizes are manufactured for different age ranges. Evenwithin age ranges, different helmet sizes are often needed simply toaccommodate the many possible head sizes of players. Therefore, thereare generally several different helmet sizes for a particular model. Tocreate different helmet sizes, two different techniques are used. In thefirst, different shells with different actual sizes are manufactured. Inthe second, a single larger shell size is manufactured, and differentamounts of padding are added inside to create different “sizes.”

Each helmet size will generally have an optional or included wire guard.Manufacturers that produce a different size shell for each helmet sizealso need to create a specific wire guard size for each size shell. Thisis illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows a prior art helmet 100. The helmet100 includes a shell 105, which has attachment points 110A and 100B oneither side. In this case, the prior art shell 105 is a smaller shell.The helmet 100 also includes a wire guard 115, which also includescorresponding attachment points 120A, 120B on either side. However, asshown in FIG. 1, if the wire guard 115 is made for a larger helmetshell, it will not fit onto the smaller shell 105. Consequently, eachhelmet shell size needs its own corresponding wire guard. The number ofSKUs thereby increases because each wire guard needs its own SKU.

Alternatively, manufacturers that use one shell for all sizes do notneed to manufacture different wire guards for each helmet size. A singlewire guard size fits all of their helmet sizes, because all of theirhelmet sizes utilize the same shell. However, the use of a single,larger shell size creates its own problems. As noted above, increasingamounts of foam in the shell are used to create “smaller” sizes. Thus,the smaller sizes actually include the most material, which leads to thehighest cost. Retailers and consumes generally feel smaller size helmetsshould be the same or cheaper than the larger size helmets, resulting inthe manufacturer having a lower margin.

Thus, there is a continuing need for improved helmet and faceguardsystem that would allow a single wire guard to fit generally anycorresponding shell size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an example embodiment, a helmet comprising a shell, a wire guard, atleast one spacer, and at least one fastener. The shell has at least oneattachment portion which includes an outer surface. The wire guard hasat least one attachment portion corresponding to the at least oneattachment portion of the shell. The attachment portion of the wireguard includes an inner surface. Each spacer has an outer surfacecorresponding to the inner surface of a the attachment portion of thewire guard. Each spacer also has an inner surface corresponding to theouter surface of the attachment portion of the shell. The at least onefastener engages each spacer with the corresponding attachment portionsof the shell and wire guard.

In another embodiment, a helmet system comprises a first shell having afirst size, and a second shell having a second size. The first size islarger than the second size. The system also includes a wire guard forengagement with the first and second shells. At least one first spaceris configured to fit between an engagement portion of the wire guard andthe first shell. At least one second spacer is configured to fit betweenan engagement of the wire guard and the second shell. The first spaceris larger than the second spacer.

Additionally, the helmet system may include a third shell having a thirdsize which is larger than the first and second sizes. The wire guard maybe selectively engagable with the third shell without the use of aspacer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the presentinvention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art helmet shell with a ill-fittingwire guard;

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of an example embodiment of a helmet system;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the example embodiment of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3. is an exploded perspective view of an attachment of a wire guardto a helmet according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spacer according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the spacer of FIG. 4.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof is shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that the drawings and detaileddescription presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but to the contrary, the intentionis to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by theappended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawingfigures, in which like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristicsof the present invention, proportional relationships of the elementshave not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a helmet system200. Specifically, the smaller helmet shell 105 is shown as connected tothe larger wire guard 115. As will be understood, the shell 105 and wireguard 115 may take on any desirable shape, design, contour, or the like.Shell 105 and wire guard 115 may be made out of any desirable material.On each side, a spacer 205A, 205B is positioned between the respectiveattachment point 110A, 110B of the shell 105 and the respectiveattachment point 120A, 120B of the wire guard 115. It is noted that onlya single spacer 205 may be used on one side or the other, although thiswould cause an offset of the wire guard 115 relative to the shell 105.

To better illustrate the engagement between the shell 105, wire guard115, and a spacer 205, FIG. 3 shows an exploded view thereof. Anattachment point 110 of shell 105 may generally take any desirableshape, and have any desirable contours. As shown, shell 105 includes anouter surface 305 at the illustrated attachment point 110, along withtwo through-holes 310. Similarly, the corresponding attachment point 120of the wire guard 115 includes an inner surface 315, along with twothrough-holes 320 corresponding to the through-holes 310 of the shell105.

Positioned therebetween is a spacer 205. The spacer 205 has an innersurface 325 that preferably corresponds in dimension and contour toengage with and mirror the outer surface 305 of the attachment point 110of the shell 105. Similarly, the spacer 205 has an outer surface 330that preferably corresponds in dimension and contour to engage with andmirror the inner surface 315 of the attachment point 120 of the wireguard 115. Spacer 205 preferably includes two through-holes 335corresponding to the through-holes 310 of the shell 105 and thethrough-holes 320 of the wire guard 115.

A respective fastener 340 extends through each of the sets ofthrough-holes 310, 320, 335 to affix the wire guard 115 and spacer 205to the shell 105. Each fastener 340 may engage with a nut or similarcomponent to secure the fastener 340 in place. However, it will berecognized that through-holes 310 in shell 105 may not extend all theway through the shell 105, such that they act as a sort of nut. It willalso be recognized that different numbers and positions of through holes310, 320, 335 may be used. Also, rather than through-holes 310, 320, 335and fasteners 340, other fastening mechanisms may be used. Asnon-limiting examples, snaps, detents, buckles, and the like may all beused without altering the spirit hereof. For ease of reference, all suchfastening mechanisms are referred to herein as “fasteners” for ease ofreference.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two additional views of an example embodimentof a spacer 205. As can be seen, in the example embodiment show, thespacer 205 may have a generally angled shape, having arms 405 and 410that extend at an angle from one another from a vertex 415. As can beseen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the arms 405, 410 may be angled relative to oneanother in one or more than one plane. FIG. 4 illustrates an angle orcurvature in which the inner surface 325 is concave, whereas FIG. 5illustrates an angle or curvature along a longitudinal plane of thespacer 205. Such angles, curves, and the like preferably follow therespective contours of the relevant shell 105 and wire guard 115,thereby allowing the spacer 205 to slot in therebetween.

As will be understood, different spacers 205 would be used to allow auniformly sized wire guard 115 to fit onto different sizes of shells105. Rather than manufacture a single large shell 105 and wire guard 115size (and then adding increasing amounts of padding to accommodatesmaller head sizes), only a single wire guard 115 could be manufactured,and different spacers 205 would be used to allow that single wire guard115 to fit with different sizes of shells 105. Different spacers 205 aregenerally much less expensive to manufacture than different wire guards115. The largest helmet shell 105 in a product line may fit the wireguard 115 without any spacers 205, while increasingly smaller shells 105would utilize correspondingly larger spacers 205.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of thepresent invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives andadvantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantageswhich are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. Itwill be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of thepresent embodiments are of utility and may be employed without referenceto other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodimentsof the present invention may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that alldisclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawingsare to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The variousconstructions described above and illustrated in the drawings arepresented by way of example only and are not intended to limit theconcepts, principles and scope of the present invention.

As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of thepresent invention are not limited by the particular details of theexamples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that othermodifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur tothose skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similarterms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of“optional” or “may include” and not as “required.”

Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applicationsof the present constructions will, however, become apparent to thoseskilled in the art after considering the specification and theaccompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations andother uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit andscope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention whichis limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A helmet comprising: a shell having at least oneattachment portion, said attachment portion of the shell including anouter surface; a wire guard having at least one attachment portioncorresponding to the at least one attachment portion of the shell, saidattachment portion of the wire guard including an inner surface; atleast one spacer, each spacer having an outer surface corresponding tothe inner surface of a said attachment portion of the wire guard, and aninner surface corresponding to the outer surface of a said attachmentportion of the shell; at least one fastener engaging each of said atleast one spacer with the corresponding attachment portions of the shelland wire guard.
 2. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the shell and wireguard each have two opposing attachment points, and wherein two spacersare provided, one between each set of opposing attachment points.
 3. Thehelmet of claim 1 wherein the shell and wire guard each have twoopposing attachment points, wherein a single spacer is providedpositioned between one set of opposing attachment points, and whereinthe other set of attachment points are engaged directly with one anothervia a said fastener, thereby creating an offset of the wire guardrelative to the shell.
 4. A faceguard system for use with at least afirst helmet shell having a first size, and with a second helmet shellhaving a second size, wherein the first size is larger than the secondsize, the faceguard system comprising: a wire guard having opposingengagement portions, wherein said wire guard is sized and shaped fordirect engagement between the engagement portions of the wire guard andthe first helmet shell, and wherein said wire guard is too large fordirect connection between the engagement portions of the wire guard andthe second helmet shell; and at least one first spacer, each said atleast one first spacer configured to fit between a respective one of theengagement portions of the wire guard and the second shell, said atleast one first spacer allowing the wire guard to engage with the secondshell.
 5. The faceguard system of claim 4 further comprising at leastone second spacer being larger than the at least one first spacer,wherein each of said at least one second spacer is configured to fitbetween a respective on of the engagement portions of the wire guard anda third helmet shell, wherein the third helmet shell is smaller than thesecond helmet shell, and wherein the at least one second spacer allowingthe wire guard to engage with the third helmet shell.
 6. The faceguardsystem of claim 4, wherein: the opposing engagement portions of the wireguard each including an inner surface for engagement with an outersurface of opposing attachment portions of the first helmet shell. 7.The faceguard system of claim 4, wherein: the opposing engagementportions of the wire guard each including an inner surface; each of saidat least one first spacers has an outer surface for engagement with arespective inner surface of a said opposing engagement portion of thewire guard; and each of said at least one first spacers has an innersurface for engagement with a respective outer surface of opposingattachment portions of the second helmet shell.
 8. The faceguard systemof claim 5, wherein: the opposing engagement portions of the wire guardeach including an inner surface; each of said at least one first spacershas an outer surface for engagement with a respective inner surface of asaid opposing engagement portion of the wire guard; and each of said atleast one first spacers has an inner surface for engagement with arespective outer surface of opposing attachment portions of the secondhelmet shell. each of said at least one second spacers has an outersurface for engagement with a respective inner surface of a saidopposing engagement portion of the wire guard; and each of said at leastone second spacers has an inner surface for engagement with a respectiveouter surface of opposing attachment portions of the third helmet shell.9. The system of claim 4 further comprising at least one fastenerengaging each of said at least one first spacer with the correspondingattachment portions of the second shell and wire guard.
 10. The systemof claim 4 further comprising at least one fastener engaging each ofsaid at least one second spacer with the corresponding attachmentportions of the third shell and wire guard.
 11. A spacer for use with ahelmet system, said helmet system including a shell having at least oneattachment portion, a wire guard having at least one attachment portioncorresponding to the at least one attachment portion of the shell, and afastener for fastening the wire guard to the shell, said spacercomprising: an outer surface corresponding to an inner surface of a saidattachment portion of the wire guard; an inner surface corresponding toan outer surface of a said attachment portion of the shell; wherein saidfastener engages and retains the spacer between the outer surface of asaid attachment portion of the shell and the inner surface of a saidattachment portion of the wire guard.